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England (Counties as in 1851-1901) => England => Sussex => Topic started by: Amy K on Sunday 24 October 04 17:14 BST (UK)

Title: Sussex Men involved in the Charge of the Light Brigade
Post by: Amy K on Sunday 24 October 04 17:14 BST (UK)
Found this in at http://www.lewestoday.co.uk/mk4custompages/CustomPage.aspx?PageID=46372

OCTOBER 25 marks the 150th anniversary of the one of the most famous military actions of the British Army in the Victorian period – the Charge of the Light Brigade.

This event, variously described as a massive blunder or a brilliant victory against all odds, took place at the Battle of Balaclava during the Crimean War with Russia during the years 1854-56.

Some 55 Sussex men served in the Light Cavalry Brigade made up of five regiments – the 4th and 13th Light Dragoons, the 8th and 11th Hussars and the 17th Lancers. All told, approximately 670 men of these regiments took part in the celebrated Charge at the Don Cossack battery of Guns in the Valley of Death on October 25, 1854 at about 11 o'clock, charging as a result (some say) of a misunderstood order from Lord Raglan in the face of murderous artillery and infantry fire from the opposing Russian positions. Twenty minutes later, half of the men and 70 per cent of horses were casualties and the survivors, many on foot, made their way painfully back up the valley, still under fire. Many of these men resided in or had been born in Sussex, according to Framfield historian Roy Mills.

Notable was one Corporal Richard Davis of the 11th Hussars who lived at 9 Park Cottages, Lewes, and was confined to his room for the last few months of his life before his death on December 27, 1897.  He was a well-known local man who worked on the railways and is buried at St John's, Lewes, but has no headstone.

Another man, John Hughes of the 4th Light Dragoons, born in Firle, was severely wounded and was discharged from the Army a year later, returning to Lewes and dying in London in 1857.

Other Lewes men at Balaclava were George Herriot of Rodmell who served in the 17th Lancers, was wounded in the charge, and Joseph Holt, 11th Hussars, who died at sea on his way to hospital.

George Eastwood of the 13th Light Dragoons, born at Burwash in 1832, was also at Balaclava, as was James Bagshaw of Ardingly who was taken prisoner by the Russians for a year

Troop Sergeant Major Seth Bond of the 11th Hussars was born at Frant and wounded in the charge.

Other stories of historical interset can be found at http://www.lewestoday.co.uk/mk4custompages/CustomPageSummary.aspx?SectionID=4075
Title: Re: Sussex Men involved in the Charge of the Light Brigade
Post by: Chris in 1066Land on Tuesday 26 October 04 18:21 BST (UK)
POST NUMBER 3000

Hi Amy

I think you can contact Framfield Historian Roy Mills and inform him of a stone to Richard Davies and a promotion from Corporal to Sergant

Memorial No 450, St John Sub Castro, Lewes

Sacred/
To the Memory/
of/
Richard Davies/
Formerly Sergant in the ......../
Who died in the/
Charge of the Light Brigade/
At Balaclava in ...................../
After spending over 40 years/
of Honest Labour in this ......./
He passed away peacefully/
The 27th October 1854/
Aged ..6 Years/
(3 lines illegible)/
Her Majesty ........................./
Also of Louisa wife of the above/
Died Jan 14th 1902 aged 62 years/

Some of the data seems to contradict with what is written on the Headstone, but there again, we could have got it wrong from the stone - Picture below.

Incidentally, the adress of 9 Park Cottages agrees with info in the Burial Register of St John

Chris in 1066Land
Title: Re: Sussex Men involved in the Charge of the Light Brigade
Post by: Amy K on Tuesday 26 October 04 22:14 BST (UK)
Dear Chris,

Thanks for that info, I certainly will try to get in touch with that historian and pass it on.

I must say I am honoured that your 3000th post in  a reply to me.

Amy
Title: Re: Sussex Men involved in the Charge of the Light Brigade
Post by: Roystone on Tuesday 13 September 05 16:23 BST (UK)
Dear Chris,

Many thanks indeed for the location and the great photograph of Richard Davies 11th Hussars' headstone at Lewes. I had trawled round the yard before and could not find him ! As a frequent visitor to Lewes I am familiar with the memorial in the same cemetary to the Finns and Russians who died in captivity at Lewes Gaol during the Crimean war, but had not realised Davies was so close. On my next visit I can get a better photo of the grave, and put some belated flowers there for last years 150th anniversary of the Charge.
Many others of the Light Brigade are in the various cemetaries Brighton and Hove too. And I have one local to me buried in Uckfield of the Heavy Brigade: General George Calvert Clarke who led one of the squadrons of the Scots Greys in the Charge of the Heavy Brigade at Balaklava 25 Oct 1854 and was severly wounded. Clarke lived at Church house, Uckfield and died, single, in 1900. He had lived in the town for over twenty years with his neices and had served in the Cavalry for over fifty years.
See www.chargeofthelightbrigade.com for more information and contact details for boigraphies etc.
many thanks again,

Roy Mills,
Framfield.
Title: Re: Sussex Men involved in the Charge of the Light Brigade
Post by: Roystone on Tuesday 13 September 05 16:43 BST (UK)
Dear Amy K,

My thanks to you too for posting the article from last year about the Light Brigade men from Sussex. There are a great many more than just those listed in that (heavily edited) article, around fifty or so, some of whom took part at Balaklava, and some who (luckily for them) missed the Russian winter of late 1854/early 1855 which killed so many off.

Any interested parties see www.chargeofhtelightbrigade.com

Being of Sussex stock (so far traced back to 1812 (well ok, West Sussex) and living in (East) Sussex, I have a biased interest in those from our county who served in the Crimea, so if anyone else would like help or advice, I'm willling to help where I can.

Best wishes,

Roy.
Title: Re: Sussex Men involved in the Charge of the Light Brigade
Post by: Chris in 1066Land on Tuesday 13 September 05 22:13 BST (UK)
Hi Roystone

Its very nice to have you aboard Rootschat, and especially on the Sussex Boards.

I am glad that you liked the picture of stone number 450 in the yard at St John Sub Castro and details of the inscription done on 11th September 2001.

Sorry it was only a part transcription, but the stone which is right at the botom of the yard (facing east with its back to some bushes) near the Little Theatre is very weathered and hard to read. - I think the last time I was in the yard earlier this year, the bushes are now covering it entirely.

I am not sure, but I think I have encountered another stone that is connected with Charge of LB - tring to sort out where it is.

Chris in 1066

Title: Re: Sussex Men involved in the Charge of the Light Brigade
Post by: AmyUK on Tuesday 20 September 05 21:36 BST (UK)
Just want to thank you for posting the information.
My Grandmothers surname (Linscer) only seems located in Sussex and has been changed from Linsur, Linser, Lincer to Linscer but all of them fit into the tree so i am very pleased to have found one George on the site you posted.
Is there any way to get more details of the individuals so i can link him in to the tree?

Amy
Title: Re: Sussex Men involved in the Charge of the Light Brigade
Post by: Roystone on Monday 03 October 05 12:35 BST (UK)
Hi Amy,

I have the following on a Linser:

1589    Pte. George LINSER.     
4th Light Dragoons
                                                 
Born in Brixton, London.
Enlisted at London on the 2 of February 1854.
Age.  20.     Height.  5' 8."     Trade.  Groom.

Wounded in action and taken prisoner of war at Balaclava.

Next of kin: Father, John Linser, living in Wimbledon, London. 
Entitled to the Crimean medal with clasps for Alma, Balaclava, and Sebastopol,

The medal roll states, "Dead" - no indication of where, or when, but is thought to have died on the road to Simpheropol

Let me know if you tie him in to your tree !

Best wishes,

Roy.
Title: Re: Sussex Men involved in the Charge of the Light Brigade
Post by: AmyUK on Thursday 06 October 05 17:49 BST (UK)
Quote from: Roystone on Monday 03 October 05 12:35 BST (UK)
Hi Amy,

I have the following on a Linser:

1589    Pte. George LINSER.     
4th Light Dragoons
                                                 
Born in Brixton, London.
Enlisted at London on the 2 of February 1854.
Age.  20.     Height.  5' 8."     Trade.  Groom.

Wounded in action and taken prisoner of war at Balaclava.

Next of kin: Father, John Linser, living in Wimbledon, London. 
Entitled to the Crimean medal with clasps for Alma, Balaclava, and Sebastopol,

The medal roll states, "Dead" - no indication of where, or when, but is thought to have died on the road to Simpheropol

Let me know if you tie him in to your tree !

Best wishes,

Roy.


Thankyou for the reply Roy,
Unfortunately i can't fit him into the tree as confidently as i would have liked, the problem being i was told that pre 1800 the family split in two, one lot remaining in Sussex and the other lot moving to London, it is the London section that have always remained a big mystery.
My G G G G Grandfather was a John Linser born in the late 1700's, and i am sure he had a son John and also a cousin John.
I had no idea that George was wounded and taken prisoner, i had heard that a PTE Thomas Linser was wounded and taken prisoner by the Russians on October 25 1854 but i hadn't heard the same for George?

Do you have anything on a Thomas Linser?

Thanks again

Amy
Title: Re: Sussex Men involved in the Charge of the Light Brigade
Post by: Roy G on Sunday 13 November 05 07:44 GMT (UK)
Hi

Lord Cardigan of Light Brigade infamy, spent some time at the Preston Cavalry Barracks in Brighton.  The Barrack hospital (these days the only remaining building from 1793) was frequently used by him to court martial those who opposed him in any way.   
Read about Captain Roberts.

Roy G
Title: Re: Sussex Men involved in the Charge of the Light Brigade
Post by: usartillery on Monday 19 April 10 05:57 BST (UK)
☼ Linser, Pte George (or Thomas), (1589), 4th LD (p 54)[Dutton 52]
Bn in Brixton [of Brides][54-4-20], Devon. Enl 02-01-54 in London at age 20 [54-1-7]. Prior Occ: Groom [54-4-20]. Rode in Charge;  wounded & taken prisoner [54-4-5, 20][CR 38]. Father, John Linser, Surrey Co., Wimbledon Parish [54-4-20]. Medal [202] w/ A [202], B [228], & S [224] Clasps. FN listed as “Thomas” [CR 38].